The nutritional management of a patient with acute myeloid leukaemia

Abstract

Acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL) is a subtype of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), categorised as AML subtype M3, and is characterised by translocation of the genes between the long (q) legs of chromosomes 15 and 17 [described as t 15;17)(q24;q21)]. There are two different classification systems for AML, namely the World Health Organization (WHO) and the French-American-British (FAB) classifications. The FAB classification divides AML into eight subtypes based on morphology and the cytochemical staining of blasts.¹ The WHO classification is more complicated, since it requires evaluation of the blast cells by molecular analysis and flow cytometry.¹ Classification of the different types of AML is valuable to doctors when deciding on which chemotherapy regimen to use after remission has been achieved since each type may react differently to treatment owing to its different genetic make-up.² APL usually has a good prognosis.^3,4